Venting apparatus



p 1943- v. s. KLEIN VENTING APPARATUS 'Filgg March 16, 1942- 2Sheets-Sheet 1K AIR SUPPLY Se t. 7, 1943. v. e. KLEIN VENTING APPARATUSFiled March 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 7, 1943 .VENTINGAPPARATUS Louis, Mo., asaignor to Victor G. Klein, St.

Lincoln Company, St. Louis, Mo.,

a corporation of Misso Application March 16, 1942, Serial No. 434,926

llclnlms.

This invention relates to venting apparatus, and with regard to certainmore specific features, to venting apparatus for injector pressure temsand the like. I

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofmeans for positively venting an injector system when its vent is incommunication with a substantial back pressure: the provision of ventingapparatus of the class described which will positively hold shut undercertain conditions and which will positively remain completely andcontinuously open upon release; and the provision of apparatus of theclass described which is simple and dependable in operation. Otherobjects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangementsof parts which willbe exemplified in the'structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic layout showing the mechanical, pneumatic andelectrical features: and,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, parts being broken away showing mechanicaldetails.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

In most single-line injector systems for lubricants and the like, theinjector'valves are operated by line pressure which line pressure, afteran injection has been made, increases to a predetermined high limit. Itis then necessary to relieve or bleed the line, preferably back to thelubricant supply, because the injector valves usually require suchpressure relief in order to Various exambecome subsequently operative.ples of such systems are shown in the following United States patents:Klein 2,122,177, dated June 28, 1938; Rotter 2,141,022, dated December20, 1938; and Rotter et a1. 2,206,335, dated July 2, 1940. r

In those patents, various forms of relief valves are shown. In thepresent disclosure, a' relief system is employed for particular usewhere relief or bleeding must be accomplished against pressure incontainers which are filled with relatively heavy fluid from whichpumping is effected by a lance pump, sometimes using an atmosphericfollower. These involve high relief line friction and pressure,involving difllculties for properly venting the injector line.

Examples of the lance type of pump contemplated are shown in thefollowing United States patents: Rotter 2,136,636, dated November 15,1938; Barks 2,122,020, dated June 28, 1938; Barks 1,970,591, datedAugust 21, 1934; Barks 1,893,464, dated January 3, 1933. Otherequivalents may be used.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral I acommercial container or drum for lubricants having a cover 3 upon whichis mounted a pump and power assembly 5.

The assembly 5 consists of a frame 1 at the lower end of which is a pump9 carried on said cover 3. The pumping unit 9 is operated by an airengine II, also carried upon the frame I. The pump rod l3 which isreciprocated by the engine reaches down into a lance pump cylinder IS,the lower end II of which is near the bottom of the container Thecylinderli is part of the pump 9. Sliding on the cylinder I5 is afollower plate H which rests upon the surface of the material in thecontainer and follows this surface down as lubricant is withdrawn fromthe container I through the cylinder l5. Atmospheric pressure and itsown weight drive the follower l9 down to follow the descending surfaceof the material. I

The outlet of the pump 9 is indicated at 2| over which material isforced under pressure into the line 23. Thence it proceeds to theinjectors (not shown). As above indicated, the injectors in the line 23operate by means of pressure in said line 23, and after they havedelivered a charge, the line 23 must be relieved of pressure to permitfurther operation of the injector.

The line for supplying air under pressure to the engine H is indicatedat numeral 25. This line 25 has in it a solenoid-operated control valve21 and the control compartment of a vent device 29.

In the cylinder 29 is a relatively large aircontrolled piston 3| whichis on its upper side subjected to the pressure of air in the line 25.

Forming an extension from the piston 3| is a relatively small pistonvalve 33, the lower end of which is subject to pressure in the line 23.

When the piston 3| is down, the piston valve 33 covers a relief line 35.This line 35 passes from line 23 through the cover 3 and down throughthe follower iii. A sliding joint at 31 provides the requisiteconnection. The lower end 390i the relief line 35 is'near the bottom ofthe condown. When the valve stem 4| isdown, but only then, an exhaust 45from line 25 is opened to bleed ofi the part of the line 25 beyond 21,that is, bleed off the pressure on piston 3|. The stem is shown up andabout to drop (for convenience).

The valve stem 4| is drawn up to the position shown in Fig. 1, when asolenoid 41 is energized;

otherwise it is biased downward'by gravity as indicated. Or, downwardbias may be effected by means of a suitable spring.

The winding of the solenoid 41 is in a line circuit indicated by heavylines at 49. Ihis line circuit 49 passes through a relay switch 5|. Theswitch 5| has contacts 53 adapted to be closed by a button 55. Thebutton arrangement 55 may be operated manually, or automatically ifdesired.

Closure of the contact 53 by means or the starter button 55 energizes acircuit 51 which is connected across the line 49 as indicated, and whichincludes a closing and holding coil 59. As soon as this coil 59 isenergized it magnetically operates'a switch 6| which closes contacts 63in the main circuit 49. This energizes the solenoid 41 from line 49. Inaddition, when the switch 6| closes, it also connects across the line 49the circuit 51 and the holding coil 59. This is done by meansof aconnection 65. Thus, when the switch 6| is once closed across thecontact 63, it is held closed by the holding coil 59, although thebutton 55 may be released to re-open. Hence the solenoid 41 maintainsthe line 25 open in communication with the cylinder 29 and the pump II'.This depresses and holds down the piston 3| and also the piston valve33. Therefore the release line 35 is positively held shut, even underpressure in the line 23 caused by the now operating pump 9.

At numeral 61 is shown a pressure-operated switch connected into line23, consisting of contacts 69 in the circuit 51. Contacts 69 are adaptedto be closed by means of a switch blade 1|. This blade 1| is operated bya piston 13 which at its lower end 15 is exposed to pressure in line 23.At its upper end the piston 13 contacts the blade 1| and under increasedpressure in line 23 raises the blade to open the contacts 69 and circuit51. Raising is accomplished against a bias, such as from a spring 11.When the pressure decreases, the spring 11 recloses the con- I tacts 69.

energize the holding coil 59 and to close the line circuit 49. Thus theline circuit 49 is held closed even though the button 55 is permitted tospring open again.

When the line 49 is closed, the solenoid 41 draws up the valve 4| sothat the supply portion of line 25 is opened. This is the position atthe valve 4| shown-in Fig. 1. This action also closes off the exhaustline 45. Hence air passes to the reciprocating air pump via the ventcylinder 29.

The air pressure in the vent cylinder 29 pushes down the relativelylarge piston 3| with substantial force. This pushes down the plunger 33to shut ofi the relief line 35.

Operation of the reciprocating air pump causes reciprocating operationof the pump 9 to draw material through the inlet H at the bottom of thecontainer I, driving this material from the outlet 2| and over the line23 to the injectors in said line.

The spring 11 in the pressure valve 61 is such that, under pumpingpressure for operating the injectors, the plunger 13 does not open thecontact 69. Hence the injectors are driven to operate. When theseinjectors, as is known, come to the .endof their strokes, they stop andfurther operation of the pump 9 builds up pressure in the line 23 to avalue whichultimately causes lifting of the plunger. 13 which opens theswitch contacts 69. This breaks the circuit 51 and deenergizes theholding coil 59,'whereupon the switch 6| in the main line circuit 49automatically opens, by gravity or a spring. When the circuit 49 opens,the solenoid 41 is deenergized, thus dropping the valve stem 4| andcutting off air pressure which feeds the cylinder 29 and thereciprocating pump At the same time the line 25 is exhausted over theair exhaust line 45. The

reduction of pressure in the cylinder 29unbalances the pressure in theline 23 exerted upon I the lower end of the plunger 33. Thus the plunger33 and piston 3| are pushed to open the relief vent line 35. Excesslubricant is pushed down to the outlet 39 at the bottom of the containeragainst even substantial back-pressure. It will be understood that theexpansive properties of lubricants are relatively small and that thevolume relieved is due to the spring return or similar action of partsin the injectors.

Desirable physical relationships are as follows:-

The ratio of the pressure required to operate the reciprocatingengine IIto the pressure engendered by the pump 9 in line 23 is for example 1:40,accomplished by differential piston areas of the engine and pump in amanner which is obvious from a study of the patents above identified asillustrating the engine and pump details. The ratio of the area ofpiston 3| to the area of the end of plunger 33 is 100:1. Thus thepressure in the air line 25 which will provide a given pressure in thelubricant line 23 willpositively hold shut the plunger 33, so long asthe contacts 69 in the pressure switch 61 are closed. This relationshipalso gives some leeway for the desired pressure rise in the line 23,after the injectors have reached the ends of their strokes,

in order to raise the plunger 15 to open the contacts 69, withoutraising the plunger 33. The switch 61 in releasing pressure in the line25 does two things: first, it shuts off the air engine II and second itpositively releases pressure on the piston 3|. Thereafterthe releasevent line 35 is definitely open. The friction between the piston 3| andthe cylinder 29 holds the piston assembly 3|, 33 in any position intowhich it may be placed by differential pressure. Thus, when air pressureis relieved of the cylinder 29 and the material in the line 23 opens theplunger 33 to vent, a full venting cross section is maintained eventhough the pressure is reduced in the line 23, because the assembly 3|,33 maintains its displaced position until air pressure re-enters line25, whereupon the vent 35 is reclosed.

- It is in respect-to having the line definitely open at all times afterinitial relief occurs that the invention difiers from prior reliefvalves. which depend for opening upon a. spring and various semi-openconditionsof relief ports. In

the present case, the relief port in the line 33 is definitely all theway openqafter relief first occurs. Thus better and freer relief can beobtained in view of the adverse conditions of emptying the reliefmaterial into the bottom of a container such as I, usually havingtherein a high head of heavy material a'ndthe load of the follower Ill.The invention is also particularly, applicableto heavy fluids which arequite critical toward frictional obstructions in relief lines and thelike.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim: I

1. A pressure relief system for use in a vented, fluid material linesupplied by a pumpoperated' from an air line; comprising. movable meansat the vent having anarea presented to pressure in the materia1 line andhaving a larger area presented to pressure in the air line, said ventair line pressure, and pressure-operated switch means responsive topressure-in said fluid line. and adapted to control said electric valveinresponse to excess pressure in the fluid lineto open said air line andto relieve pressure on said pis-.

ton to a value where pressure in the fluid line may move said vent valveto venting position. 4. Pressure relief apparatus for a fluid pressureline leading from a pump which is operatedby. an air engine, the latterhaving an air pressure supply line; comprising a vent member having avent and a pressure com'partment'in the fluid pressure line with asecond compartment in one portion of the air pressure line, said ventmember having a relatively large movable piston-exposed to the airpressure, a plunger connected to said pistonhaving a relatively smallarea exposed to the pressure in the fluid pressureline and normallybiased by the air pressure to close off said vent, the fluid pressure insaid line being adapted to move the plunger to venting position in theabsence of pressure in the air line, a valve in the air line normallybiased to'a position to cut off pressure, said valve having an exhaustoperative beyond the cut-oft means being normally biased by the air linepressure to close the vent, a solenoid valve in the air line, saidsolenoid valve normally being biased to close the air line and to,release the pressure in the part .of said. airline containing the largerarea of the vent means.

2. A pressure relief system for use in a vented fluid material linesupplied by a pump operated by an air engine having an air line;comprising movable means at the vent having an area presented topressure in the material line and having a larger area presented topressure in the air line, said vent means being normally biased by theair line pressure to close the vent, a solenoid valve in the air line,said solenoid valve.

normally being biased to close the air line and to release the pressurein the part of said air line containing the larger area of the ventmeans, an electric circuit for operating said solenoid valve to open theair line and close the air release, whereby said vent in the materialline is positively closed by said air pressure on said larger area,self-holding means for maintaining said circuit, a pressure switchnormally biased also to hold said circuit closed and having means foropening the circuit which means is exposed to the pressure in saidmaterial line, pressure of predetermined value in said material linebeing unable to actuate the vent valve or the pressure switch but acertain higher pressure above said predetermined pressure while unableper se to open the vent valve being enabled to actuate said pressureswitch to open said circuit, whereby the solenoid is'biased to aposition to cut oil the pressure in the air line and to release, wherebythe air engine becomes inoperative and said vent becomes responsive topressure in the material line positively to vent the same;

3. Pressure relief apparatus for use in a fluid pressure line from apump operated by an air engine, said engine having an air line;comprising a vent valve adapted to be moved by prespoint which is openedwhen pressure is blocked, and a pressure switch having a plunger with anarea exposed to pressure in said fluid pressure line, contact meansnormally biased to closed positions and adapted to be opened by pressureactuation of said plunger, a solenoid for operating said air valve, acircuitwhich when closed energizes said solenoid to open the airline andto close the air exhaust, said pressure switch being adapted to opensaid circuit to de-energiae said solenoid.

5. Venting apparatus for use in the fluid pressure outlet, of a, pumpoperated by an an engine, the latter being supplied from an air pressureline; comprising a vent member having a compartment in the fluidpressure line and a compartment in the air line and a vent, a

.plunger adapted to open and close the vent and having an area exposedto pressure in the fluid pressure line, a relatively largepiston movablewith the plunger and exposed to pressure in the air line, the ratio ofthe area of the piston to thearea of the plunger being larger than theratio of the pressure in the fluid supply line to the pressure in theair line, whereby said vent is normally held shut by the air linepressure on said piston.

6. Venting apparatus for use in the fluid pressure outlet of a pumpoperated by an air engine, the latter being supplied from an airpressure line; comprising a vent member having a com-- partment in thefluid pressure line and a compartment in the air line and a vent, aplunger adapted to open and close the vent and having an area exposed topressure in the fluid pressure line, a relatively largepiston movablewith the plunger and exposed to pressure in the air line, the ratio of.the area of the piston to the area of the plunger being larger than theratio of the pressure in the fluid supply line to the pressure in theair line, whereby said vent is normally held shut by the air linepressure on said piston, and means responsive to increased pressure insaid sure ing-the fluid line, i a piston. of larger area connected withthe said valve adapted under" pressure to prevent said motionsaid pistonbeing'j I fluid pressure line adapted tocut off pressure in the air lineand to release pressure on the piston.

7. Venting apparatus for use in the fluid pressure outlet of a pumpoperated by an air engine, the latterbeing energized from an airpressure line; comprising a 'vent member having a compartment in thefluid pressure line and a compartment in the air line and a vent, aplunger adapted to open and close the vent and having an area exposed topressure in the fluid pressure line, a relatively large piston movablewith the plunger and exposed to pressure in the air line, the ratio ofthe piston area' to said plunger area being larger than the ratio of thepressure in the fluid line to the pressure in the air line, whereby saidvent, is normally maintained shut by the air line pressure, and meansresponsive to a predetermined higher pressure in the pressure line forrelieving the pressure in said air line against said piston, whereby alower pressure in the fluid line will be enabled to hold said plunger inventing position.

8. Venting apparatus for a fluid pressure line from a motor operatedpump; comprising a venting member having a vent, aplunger adapted tocover and uncover said vent and having an area exposed to pressure insaid fluid supply line, means for biasing said plunger toward ventclosing position comprising the motivating means for said motor, asecond plunger having an area exposed to pressure in said fluid pressureline and normally biased to a position to maintain flow of themotivating means for said motor, and adapted under a predetermined highpressure in said fluid line to cut off flow of said motivating means tothe motor and to reduce its biasing effect upon said flrst-namedplunger, whereby said first-named plunger ismoved by the pressure in thefluid pressure line to expose said vent to venting of fluid from thelast-named line.

9. Venting apparatus for a fluid pressure line from a motor operatedpump including motivating means for the motor; comprising a meansproviding a vent for the fluid line, a plunger adapted to cover anduncover the vent and ex- 'posed to pressure lnsaid fluid line; meansresponsive to the motivating means for the motorfor biasing said plungerto vent-closing position while the motor is operating, and a secondmeans responsive to pressure in the fluid line adapted under excesspressure in the fluid line to cut 011: the motivating means for themotor and release the means for biasing the plunger so that underpressure in the fluid line said plunger may move to a position touncover said vent.

. 10. Venting apparatus for the fluid pressure outlet line of a pumpoperated by an air engine supplied from an air pressure line; comprisingvent means having a vent from the fluid pressure line of the pump andhaving a covering plunger for the vent, the plunger having an areaexposed to the pressure in said outlet line, piston means associatedwith'the plunger and having a larger area exposed to pressure in theairline, valve means in the air line including an exhaust for the portionof the air line in which said piston is exposed, said valvebeing'movable to a position to open the air line and close the exhaustor vice-versa.

11. Venting apparatus for the fluid pressure outlet line of a pumpoperated by an air engine supplied from an air pressure line; comprisingvent means having a vent from the fluid pressure line-of the pump andhaving a covering plunger for the vent, the plunger having an areaexposed to the pressure in said'outlet line, piston means associatedwiththe plunger and having a larger area exposed to pressure in the airline, valve means in the air line including an exhaust'for 1 the portionof the air line in which said piston is exposed, said valve beingmovable to a position to open the air line and close the exhaust orviceversa, said valve being normally movable to the last-named position,control means for holding said valve in its other position against saidbias, and means responsive to one pressure in the outlet line of thepump adapted normally to release the valve to move with its bias.

VICTOR G. KLEIN.

